For all. Why no manuals (Page 2): :sm02: :sm02:...

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Longshadow wrote:

Ditto, my manual is in camera bag, as well as on the laptop. Things that I might use once a year?? Or set after I got the camera?

I still have my Ftb and AE-1, and manuals. Yes, thin. They didn't have a million options to set or adjust.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Most computer literate people prefer a hyper text version of the manual. It's a whole lot easier and faster than flipping through those little pages. If the manual was not included on a disc, just download it.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

rmorrison1116 wrote:

Most computer literate people prefer a hyper text version of the manual. It's a whole lot easier and faster than flipping through those little pages. If the manual was not included on a disc, just download it.

Do you mean PDF? I have those for everything I can find.
But I can <easily> pencil notes in the hard copy.

rook2c4 Loc: Philadelphia, PA USA

latebloomer wrote:

I just purchased a new Olympus E-M1-II. As my Pen F it had no include a full manual with it. My Nikons do.

Why can't a manufacture produce an included manual with such an expensive product? I know there manuals are not perfect; yet, they are very useful and can't cost that much to produce. Are the makers just that greedy and selfish? I find it absurd.

There are many younger photographers who don't want printed manuals at all, feel that they are a waste of money and resources, and they much rather have all their manuals in digital format they can view on their tablet, phone, etc. Even in school printed books are hardly used anymore. Students sit behind laptops nowadays.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

BebuLamar wrote:

Of course it does cost but they did it because so many people don't read the manual. I think they still give you a PDF manual right. Of course it's not the same as the paper manual.

i downloaded the 540 page manual for my Canon 7D Mark II to my phone and have access to it when ever I need it. Much more convenient than a paper copy.

latebloomer Loc: Topeka, KS

Thank you all for your comments. My issue is the need to a small sized manual that can easily fit in a camera bag. I do not find running off 100- 200 + pages on my computer to re that helpful. My use is almost to uge it as a reference to look up a need or answer a problem. I do find the plethora of alternatives in the Olympus menus and chooses almost excessive. Is there really a new for a "food setting?"

Yes, I read a lot. Surprised more don't.

Thanks again,
Terry

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

The paper manual for my 5DIV is in the original box, on the shelf, in it's original, un-opened, cellophane wrapper. Same was true with my previous cameras, a 7DII and a 6D. My EOS R didn't come with a paper manual. Saved me the trouble of putting it back in the box after unpacking the camera. I always just download the pdf from Canon. With Canon I have always found the digital copies to be more comprehensive then the paper ones.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

mwsilvers wrote:

i downloaded the 540 page manual for my Canon 7D Mark II to my phone and have access to it when ever I need it. Much more convenient than a paper copy.

My T1i manual is only 228 pages, still handy in PDF form.

ken_stern Loc: Yorba Linda, Ca

I just looked-up the Olympus E-M1-II --
It appears to cost around $1500 --- I'll be damned!!!
My $500.00 lawnmower came with a manual -- My 50.00 Toaster came with a damn manual

It's probably a great camera --

BUT anything that costs $1,500 deserves a written hold it in your hand PAPER MANUAL
It's then up to you - the guy/consumer that paid the money for it to decide to read it or not !!!!!!!
PS: All my Canon Cameras came with MANUAL'S

cowboydid2 Loc: The highways and byways of America

I have 10 Nikons, ranging from a D60 up to a D750, all used. Digital is the ONLY way I got manuals for them.

Quixdraw Loc: x

Manuals came with all of my cameras, and I do use them, I found it convenient to load them onto my Kindle. If flying with a full bag, I leave the paper copies home - more space in the camera bag and less weight.

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

latebloomer wrote:

I just purchased a new Olympus E-M1-II. As my Pen F it had no include a full manual with it. My Nikons do.

Why can't a manufacture produce an included manual with such an expensive product? I know there manuals are not perfect; yet, they are very useful and can't cost that much to produce. Are the makers just that greedy and selfish? I find it absurd.

Download it to your smartphone and computer as a PDF file.

Almost no one reads them. You and I are exceptions. Manufacturers figure, “Wy bother?”

As someone who has written lots of training manuals, software manuals, and training video scripts, I understand Olympus’ reluctance to kill trees for nothing.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

latebloomer wrote:

Thank you all for your comments. My issue is the need to a small sized manual that can easily fit in a camera bag. I do not find running off 100- 200 + pages on my computer to re that helpful. My use is almost to uge it as a reference to look up a need or answer a problem. I do find the plethora of alternatives in the Olympus menus and chooses almost excessive. Is there really a new for a "food setting?"

Yes, I read a lot. Surprised more don't.

Thanks again,
Terry

I've read the entire 540 pages of my camera' manual. If you want to have your manual with you all the time put it on your phone as I did.

mwsilvers Loc: Central New Jersey

ken_stern wrote:

I just looked-up the Olympus E-M1-II --
It appears to cost around $1500 --- I'll be damned!!!
My $500.00 lawnmower came with a manual -- My 50.00 Toaster came with a damn manual

It's probably a great camera --

BUT anything that costs $1,500 deserves a written hold it in your hand PAPER MANUAL
It's then up to you - the guy/consumer that paid the money for it to decide to read it or not !!!!!!!
PS: All my Canon Cameras came with MANUAL'S

How many pages are in you lawn mower manual? I'm guessing perhaps 25 or 30 in each of several languages and a second shorter manual regarding maintenance of the motor. How pages is your toaster manual? Here I'm guessing around 10. My camera's full manual has 540 pages in English and there are 3 other advanced subsidiary manuals of around another 150 pages for a total of almost 700 pages. Not quite the same thing as your examples imply.

Many people prefer pdf manuals on their phones or small tablets that they usually carry around with them. It gives them full search features so they can find whatever they're looking for in a matter of seconds rather than flipping through hundreds of pages hoping to find some arcane detail. That is how most people under 40 want their information these days.

rmorrison1116 Loc: Near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania

Longshadow wrote:

Do you mean PDF? I have those for everything I can find.
But I can <easily> pencil notes in the hard copy.

It could be a PDF but not necessarily. PDF'S contain hyper text and so do other types of documents.
Yes, it's easy to make notes in a hard copy, I've done it often. But, the topic was about, why no manuals, not why may hard copy manuals be better than electronic. Even when a hardcopy manual is supplied, I normally download an electronic manual to my laptop and tablet and sometimes, depending on the manual, I print a larger version.